Just a little maple syrup sweetens this delicious custard. It has the creamiest texture with coconut milk which can help boost energy if those levels are depleted after the holidays. We enjoyed this for Christmas dinner but it would be perfect for New Year's Eve or any holiday.

Also because this does not contain eggs, no need to bake. After heating a few of the ingredients on the stove, blend everything together in a Vita Mix or with immersion blender and let set at room temperature until cool then refridgerate until time to serve.This can be made a day ahead for even easier entertaining.

This recipe is also very versatile. For a unique flavor, try adding peppermint extract, cinnamon and chili for Mexi-twist, powdered ginger, or rosemary for a gourmet taste. This recipe can be changed in so many ways. I'd love to hear what you try!

1. Heat milks, chocolate chips and agar agar powder until it starts to boil. Let simmer for a minute or two until chocolate chips are mostly melted.
2. Add everything to a blender and blend until completely incorporated. Pour into a large dish or several individual ramekins. Let sit at room temperature until cool then refridgerate until time to serve.

These are the scones for those cozy mornings with knit socks and a crackling fire. With just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of spice, these red-speckled treasures will soothe your soul! Serve with hot tea and indulge sweetly, my friends.

I made these scones for Christmas morning at my mother's (double batch). Served with bacon, breakfast hash, fresh berries, and orange juice, it was a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Christ... Good company. Great Food. Lots of Love and Laughter.

(Above pictures is the view from my mother's front window and the bottom picture is my Sweet family. Yep, that's me on the left followed by Big Blue Eyes and Witty Husband)

These oaty vegan biscuits contain almond flour which is a great source of protein. Chia seeds replace the need for starches and eggs used in other gluten-free scone recipes. The scones are free of soy, eggs, dairy, and gluten.

The recipe might look similar to you, it is based off my biscuit recipe I concocted but with cinnamon, a little sweetness, and some raspberries.

1. Add the vinegar to the milk and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 425.
3.
Grind rolled oats and chia seeds (using a blender, food processor or coffee
grinder) until oats resemble a flour.
4. Combine all dry ingredients (reserve a tablespoon of sugar if you want to sprinkle your scones before baking)
5.
Add coconut oil (or butter substitute) to dry ingredient mix and use a pastry cutter or a
potato masher to combine the oil into the flour until it resembles little
balls.
6. Combine the remaining wet ingredients with the milk and vinegar mixture. Add to dry mixture.
7. Using an ice cream scoop, or your hands, scoop out about 1/4 cup and round into ball (or with ice cream scoop, just fill and dispense). Best baked on a stoneware pan for 18 - 20 minutes.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

God bless your holiday season and this new year to come! I hope you enjoy joyous moments, peace, and great food!

In the next couple weeks, I look forward to sharing a few recipes I've been developing, including a yeasty gluten-free bread, my husband's favorite chocolate chip breakfast rug, cranberry banana cake to name a few.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Love this Seventh Generation brand! Just to let you know it is on sale at Amazon, including a $6 coupon (don't forget to clip the coupon to get the discount - its below the subscribe and save)!
When you subscribe and save, it saves 5% which means Seventh Generation Bathroom Tissue, 2-ply, 300 Sheets, 4 Pack (12 Count)
ends up being just under $23! (price is subject to change at anytime)
It's a great idea to stock up in case you have guests coming for the holidays!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Spicy Saigon Cinnamon combined with the rich depth of curry and coarse sea salt plus with a little sweetener, shredded coconut, and calcium-rich sesame seeds. The seeds, honey and coconut flakes create a crunchy exterior which pairs lovely with the toasty almonds. It reminds me a little of brown sugar almonds but without all the sugar and fat.

These almonds would be wonderful with dried cranberries and dark chocolate. And tied in some lovely clear bags or jars, they make a tasty gift.

Trying this in my slow cooker was not an original idea. After dreaming of these almonds, I saw this recipe on pinterest over at Detrimental Beauty and I knew I had try my hand at using the crock pot for toasting nuts. Her recipe looks equally delicious so go give it a look.

Directions:
1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker. Turn on low for two hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
2. Remove from crockpot and spread across parchment paper to cool.
3. Store in glass jars or pretty baggies and gift or enjoy yourself!

Friday, December 7, 2012

"We're like licorice. Not everybody likes licorice, but the people who like licorice really like licorice." ~ Jerry Garcia

Do you ever feel like licorice?

This is good ol' fashioned licorice with a little boost. With anise seed, fennel seed, and licorice root, these little black jewels can be eaten as a digestive aid after a meal. Anise and fennel help treat indigestion and gas while licorice root can improve stamina and help calm stomach ulcers. Licorice can also help tame a sore throat (as seen in my marshmallow and licorice root cough syrup).

A jar of these would make a lovely Christmas gift or an addition to a stocking.

1. Add everything to a small saucepan. Boil then simmer for 25 minutes.
2. Remove from stovetop and let cool with herbs in it (several hours).
3. Strain. Reserve remainder in the fridge to be used when needing a digestive aid or cough supressant.

1. Add the decoction, lemon juice, molasses, and coconut oil to a medium thick-bottomed saucepot. Insert a candy thermometer.
2. Boil until the liquid reaches 235 degrees or soft ball stage.
3. Remove from heat, gradually whisk in tapioca starch.
4. Pour out onto a parchment-lined tray and let cool ten minutes (or until warm not hot to touch).
5. Roll the licorice into two long ropes. Set ropes side by side and twist, starting at one side to the next.
6. Let dry, undisturbed for 8 hours. Cut into pieces.
Makes about thirty 1" pieces depending on size.

*Licorice root can raise blood pressure. Avoid administering to those who have high blood pressure. Also be sure to include potassium in your diet when eating licorice. And with any herbs,
consult your doctor before considering consumption.
If you have high blood pressure, omit the licorice root and use an extra tablespoon of each seed.

And last but not least, I'm not
a doctor. I'm not licensed to diagnose or prescribe. This is for educational
purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or
prevent any disease. Use information at your discretion, taking
into account medical history. Always research!

I buy my herbs from:

I'm proud to announce that I'm now an affiliate for one of my favorite companies: Mountain Rose Herbs. Creating this blog, I had a few goals in mind. Never was it intended for this blog to be a monetary source (although it certainly isn't harmful if it turns out to be). My point being I didn't want to compromise the integrity of this blog and the photographs and recipes I share here. But when it came to being able to spread the word of the amazing quality products offered by MRH, I jumped at the chance. Thank you MRH for this opportunity. And to help support Sweet Roots and further our content, you can purchase amazing quality herbs, teas, oils, and butters through the link above or below (or in the future, the one at the right hand side or bottom of the blog). Thank you, sweet readers!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

A brief introduction to all the ingredients that make up this wonderful smoothie:

Lemon juice adds vitamin C and can help cut through any crud in the throat.

Elderberries are a powerful berry. These little jewels have powderful antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been proven to diasrm viruses and considerably shortens the duration of flu or cold symptoms. These berries are featured in my chai-spiced elderberry cobbler.

Steamed carrots make for a very easily digestible Beta-Carotene or Vitamin A which can help prevent sinus infections are help you recover from one. As an alternative, you can try steamed pumpkin or any orange winter squash.

Cinnamon is a much-loved and used spice for very good reasons. Everyone loves its spicy sweetness. This warming spice has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It helps to stimulate digestion which can be stagnate after being sick.

Ginger is extermely warming. It helps heat the extremities that otherwise can get cold in this winter weather. Ginger can kill cold viruses and is anti-parasitic.

Astragalus root tooks this whole smoothie to the next level. It is, of course, optional. However when you hear about all the amazing things it does, you'll want to stock up. This root contains immunostimulant polysaccharides and increases the number of stem cells in bone marrow. The herb increases the production of white blood cells that help to fight the germs we encounter on a daily basis. This root helps ground our energy and research shows it can help those who have poor nutrition or digestion, indecision and more importantly cancer and HIV.

1. Cook elderberries with two tablespoons water. Boil then simmer for ten minutes. Remove from stove and let cool. (This can be done the day before as well).
2. Using a garlic press, juice the ginger into your blender. Add remaining ingredients. Blend until completely mixed.

Serve and enjoy!

I purchase my herbs from:

And last but not least, I'm not a doctor. I'm not licensed to diagnose or prescribe. This is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Use information at your discretion, taking into account medical history. Always research!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

In our little family, we decided to forgoe gifts this year and just do stockings.

I love making DIY Christmas gifts but it's fun to shop around for cute, funny, or thoughtful stocking stuffers that you know will be used and loved. The links are all to amazon but a lot of the products can be found at your local grocery store, natural health foods store, and Target.

In an effort to support small business owners, crafters, and fellow bloggers, join me on Sweet Roots facebook page for twelve days of DIY stocking stuffers and Etsy finds.

A Sweet Welcome

I'm rethinking the way we use herbs in the kitchen and in daily life. It's not always a little dash of this or a sprig of that. All recipes on this blog are dairy and gluten-free. Pour yourself a lush cup of tea and please enjoy Sweet Roots!

All photographs, designs and ideas are created and copyrighted by myself, Mary Banducci (unless otherwise indicated). Please do not use my photos or work without my permission. You can see more of my work at the above link Maryangelo.